[NEohioPAL] Berko review: GODSPELL (Mercury Summer Theatre)

[Roy Berko]

Updated GODSPELL
appealing at Mercury Summer Stock
 
Roy Berko
 
(Member, American Theatre
Critics Association)
 
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‘GODSPELL,’ now on
stage at Mercury Summer Theatre, has a strong Cleveland connection.  This is often overlooked in the stories
about the rock musical which is based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, and supposedly tells the story of the last seven
days of Christ's life..
Playwright John-Michael
Tebelak was a 1966 graduate of Berea High School.   At age 22, while a student at Carnegie Mellon
University, he wrote the script as his masters thesis project,.  As legend goes, Tebelak, who had
thoughts of becoming an Episcopal minister before he decided to become a
theatre director, had attended an Easter service in Pittsburgh and was struck
by the lack of joy and celebration in the service, as well as by the personal
hostility he felt from some of the older churchgoers because of his clothing
and long hair.  To put this in
perspective, remember, this was the height of the Vietnam War, the hippie/peace
movement, and the open clash between generations.
 
He dropped out of
college, completed the musical, eventually hooking up with musical composer
Stephan Schwartz (who would eventually go on to write ‘PIPPIN,’ ‘WICKED,’ and
“CHILDREN OF EDEN’).  The rest is
theatre history.  Working with Schwartz
they retained the song "By My Side" from the original version, and
wrote the rest of the score during preparations and rehearsals for the
off-Broadway production.
 
The show opened
Off-Broadway on May 17, 1971.  Ironically, in August of that year, Tebelak directed a production of the
script at the Great Lakes Theatre Festival, which was then housed in the
Lakewood High School Auditorium. 
 
John-Michael
returned to Berea to direct the 10th Anniversary production of ‘GODSPELL’ at
Berea Summer Theater in the summer of 1980.  He subsequently directed ‘CABARET’ there in the summer 1981.
He was named an Outstanding Ohioan by then-Governor John J. Gilligan.
The
musical is noted for its score, which is a mixture of rock, folk, pop and
Broadway and includes “Day by Day,” “Learn Your Lessons Well,” ”Light of the
World,” and “By My Side.”  Some of
the lyrics are original, with others taken from either the BIBLEor the 1940 EPISCOPAL HYMNAL.
As conceived by
Tebelak, in his attempt to add joyousness to the proceedings, the cast is
traditionally dresses in clown-like costumes, or tie-dye materials which were
popular during the “hippie” era.  The Christ figure often has a Superman logo on his chest.
Since Director
Pierre-Jacques Brault has added all sorts of references to today’s world, to
modernize the parables, his cast is dressed in 2009 casual clothing.  The likes of American Idol, Bernie Madoff, Kevin Bacon, Donald Trump and
Sarah Palin get referenced.  The
setting is a school library, which allows for some creative, if overused, use
of tables to create visual levels and walkways on the stage.  Brault has some cast members seated
within the audience and singing so that there is a feeling that the
“congregation” is participating in the action.  
Brault’s staging
and choreography are sprightly and well-conceived.
The cast, mostly
made up of young college students, creates many good vocal blends, though
individual voices are not always good.  Standouts include Sara Masterson who has a pretty voice and makes for an
adorable disciple, and  Jen Myor
who also sings well.  The musical
renditions and staging of “All for the Best,” “We Beseech Thee,’ and “All Good
Gifts” are excellent.
Since the main
story is displayed in the subtext, the way the players interact with their
leader and come together to create a loving community, the Christ figure must
have a special charisma.   Unfortunately, though he tries hard and has some appealing qualities,
Zach DeNardi neither has the emotional presence or the voice to pull off the
role.  It was obvious that he, and
Brian Marshall, who has both the fine singing talent and the required charisma,
should have reversed roles.
Eddie Carney’s
musical direction and his pit orchestra were excellent.  Zach DeNardi’s set design, with library
wall’s covered with philosophical phrases was engaging and appropriate.
The use of visuals
to create a worldly meaning to the death of Christ at the end of the show were
more distracting than appealing.
CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: Though
John MichaelTebelak died on April 2, 1985, at
age 35, he will long be remembered for giving the world of theatre a major work
that can be staged by and for groups of all ages.  I think he would have approved of the updates and staging at
Mercury.  Yes, it’s all for the
best!
 
Mercury Summer Theatre
produces its shows in the Parma Little Theatre, 6285 W. 54th Street,
Parma.  The show runs through July
25 .  For information go on line to www.mercurysummerstock.com.  Their next production is ‘ME AND MY
GIRL’ (August 7-22).
 
 
 Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2009, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info

His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)